Japanese · Numbers & Time
年
nen / toshi
Year
Beginnernoun
Definition
A period of twelve months. Read as ねん (nen) when counting years and とし (toshi) when referring to age or a year more generally.
Example
今年は何年ですか？
What year is this year?
Etymology
'年' (nen / toshi) has its roots in ancient Chinese characters, and it has been integral to Japanese timekeeping and chronology across periods.
How & Where It’s Used
'年' (nen/toshi) is widely used in both written and spoken forms, appropriate in discussions surrounding age, time measurement, and planning.